Treatment of arteriosclerosis
The treatment of arteriosclerosis is highly dependent on how advanced it is. Every person gets slight calcium deposits in the arteries in the course of his life. This usually begins at the beginning of the twenties and continues throughout the whole life.
However, how pronounced these arteriosclerotic plaques are, depends strongly on lifestyle. The treatment of arteriosclerosis in the broadest sense therefore begins with a healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet, plenty of exercise and avoiding stress. If these measures are not sufficient, a stronger diet and a targeted sports programme may still be able to help.
If the arteriosclerosis progresses further, one first takes blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering drugs. Both high blood pressure and high blood lipid levels favour the development of plaques and are therefore treated preventively before the actual disease. If arteriosclerosis has formed for the first time, which actually causes complaints, additional blood-thinning medication is usually prescribed.
This is to ensure that no blood clots are deposited on the calcium deposits and that the situation becomes even worse. If serious complications occur, such as severe circulatory disorders of the legs, brain or heart, the calcified and clogged sections of the blood vessels must be freed again. – This can be done with a catheter, i.e. a thin wire, which is usually inserted via the inguinal artery.
Stents, i.e. small wire meshes that are intended to keep the vessels open, are often inserted into the heart via such a catheter. – The last therapeutic option is the so-called bypass, in which a diversion is constructed for the blocked section of the vessel with the help of another vessel. A preventive, healthy lifestyle is the first and foremost remedy for arteriosclerosis.
This includes all kinds of household remedies that involve a balanced diet. Taking a lot of vitamins and fibre is also a good way to prevent arteriosclerosis. Endurance sports are suitable for strengthening the cardiovascular system as a whole and thus also reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis.
In addition, it helps to be mindful of oneself in everyday life and to reduce one’s own stress, for example through yoga or meditation. Special household remedies that have a positive effect on arteriosclerosis are many foods that contain vitamins E and C. These include citrus fruits, for example. These vitamins contain so-called antioxidants.
These substances are able to intercept dangerous cell waste products that can damage the vessel walls. As a result, the waste products do not reach the vessel walls. Instead, they are excreted together with the unmetabolized portion of the vitamins.
Garlic is also an important household remedy against arteriosclerosis. It causes the blood platelets not to cluster together so easily and thus triggers a natural thinning of the blood. Through this thinning of the blood, garlic prevents the formation of blood clots on the calcium deposits in the vessels.
Also strengthening for the circulation are so-called alternating baths. In these baths, the lower legs, legs or even the entire body is showered off alternately with warm and cold water. This has a positive effect on the vessels, similar to the hot-cold change in the sauna.
The diet for arteriosclerosis is largely based on the types of fat that someone eats. For this you have to know that the largest part of the blood fat consists of cholesterol. This cholesterol can be divided into good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL).
Good cholesterol has a protective effect on the blood vessels, whereas bad cholesterol favours the development of arteriosclerosis. In order to lower the LDL level in the blood, one should consume as little saturated fatty acids as possible. These are mainly contained in animal fats, i.e. in meat.
In addition, deep-frying fat consists to a large extent of these saturated fatty acids. To increase the HDL level in the blood, vegetable fat is particularly valuable. Besides vegetable margarine and olive oil, nuts and fish are also a valuable source of good fat.
It is therefore not important to completely banish fat from the diet, but rather to pay attention to the source of the fat. In addition, fruit and vegetables with their fibre and vitamins also have a very positive effect on the vascular system. As a rule, about 5 portions (á 50g) of fruit a day and 250g of vegetables are sufficient for an adult person to cover the vitamin requirements.
Another major factor in the development of arteriosclerosis is elevated blood pressure. This can also be influenced by diet. A high-salt diet has a negative effect on blood pressure.
Finished products in particular usually have a salt content that is far too high. Vitamin K is usually the first thing that is associated with blood clotting. Blood thinners such as Marcumar act against vitamin K and thus prevent blood clotting.
However, vitamin K also plays a part in bone formation. This is because it causes the calcium from the blood to be incorporated into the bones. At the same time, vitamin K prevents the calcium from settling on the fat plaques and thus calcifying them.
